NC roads could reach 75 mph in Senate bill

Published: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 11:41 p.m.

RALEIGH (AP) — A legislative proposal to allow speed limits of 75 miles per hour on some North Carolina roads is barreling through the state Senate.

The Senate Transportation Committee quickly passed legislation Wednesday giving the state Department of Transportation authority to set speed limits that high for interstates and other controlled access highways. The current limit is 70 mph.

Primary bill sponsor Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, wants North Carolina to join 16 other states that legislative research say authorize speed limits of 75 mph or higher. The law already directs DOT to set a "reasonable and safe speed limit" on the basis of engineering and traffic levels.

The bill is "just to move traffic along. A lot of times when it's not crowded, you have an opportunity to go a little bit faster without having to worry about getting a ticket," Hunt told reporters after the committee meeting. The full Senate was expected to consider the measure Thursday.

Hunt envisions sections of Interstate 40 between Raleigh and Wilmington among the potential candidates for the higher speeds.

Other highways that are less traveled or less populated may include I-77 above Statesville or Down East along U.S. Highway 64 near to the Outer Banks.

Nobody opposed the bill at the meeting, but AAA Carolinas motor club spokesman Tom Crosby raised several concerns later Wednesday. Speed is a contributing factor in one-third of traffic fatalities and a higher speed will invariably result in more deaths, he said.

Crosby said no one should be under the impression that a higher speed limit will mean dramatically fewer people will be speeding. While people may drive 75 mph on 70 mph highways today, they'll just drive 80 or higher if the limit rises.

"It kind of pushes the envelope in the wrong direction," Crosby said in a phone interview. "The tendency is always going faster than the speed limit."

State DOT had little to say about the bill late Wednesday. "We're always closely following any pending legislation that would have an impact on our roads and travel," agency spokesman Mike Charbonneau said.

None of the 16 states that allow speed limits of at least 75 mph are on the East Coast. The closest is Louisiana.

All states adopted a maximum 55 mph speed limit by 1974 after Congress passed a law withholding funds to states that didn't use the limit as a way to conserve gas during the energy crisis. Federal lawmakers allowed states in the mid-1980s to increase speeds on rural interstates to 65 mph, and Congress repealed the maximum speed limit in 1995, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

<p>RALEIGH (AP) — A legislative proposal to allow speed limits of 75 miles per hour on some North Carolina roads is barreling through the state Senate.</p><p>The Senate Transportation Committee quickly passed legislation Wednesday giving the state Department of Transportation authority to set speed limits that high for interstates and other controlled access highways. The current limit is 70 mph.</p><p>Primary bill sponsor Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake, wants North Carolina to join 16 other states that legislative research say authorize speed limits of 75 mph or higher. The law already directs DOT to set a "reasonable and safe speed limit" on the basis of engineering and traffic levels.</p><p>The bill is "just to move traffic along. A lot of times when it's not crowded, you have an opportunity to go a little bit faster without having to worry about getting a ticket," Hunt told reporters after the committee meeting. The full Senate was expected to consider the measure Thursday.</p><p>Hunt envisions sections of Interstate 40 between Raleigh and Wilmington among the potential candidates for the higher speeds.</p><p>"You've still got to drive safely," Hunt said. "If it's not appropriate, then DOT won't approve it."</p><p>Other highways that are less traveled or less populated may include I-77 above Statesville or Down East along U.S. Highway 64 near to the Outer Banks.</p><p>Nobody opposed the bill at the meeting, but AAA Carolinas motor club spokesman Tom Crosby raised several concerns later Wednesday. Speed is a contributing factor in one-third of traffic fatalities and a higher speed will invariably result in more deaths, he said.</p><p>Crosby said no one should be under the impression that a higher speed limit will mean dramatically fewer people will be speeding. While people may drive 75 mph on 70 mph highways today, they'll just drive 80 or higher if the limit rises.</p><p>"It kind of pushes the envelope in the wrong direction," Crosby said in a phone interview. "The tendency is always going faster than the speed limit."</p><p>State DOT had little to say about the bill late Wednesday. "We're always closely following any pending legislation that would have an impact on our roads and travel," agency spokesman Mike Charbonneau said.</p><p>None of the 16 states that allow speed limits of at least 75 mph are on the East Coast. The closest is Louisiana.</p><p>All states adopted a maximum 55 mph speed limit by 1974 after Congress passed a law withholding funds to states that didn't use the limit as a way to conserve gas during the energy crisis. Federal lawmakers allowed states in the mid-1980s to increase speeds on rural interstates to 65 mph, and Congress repealed the maximum speed limit in 1995, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.</p>